At least 27 people were trapped inside an under-construction tunnel for the Teesta Hydropower Project in Sikkim on Monday when the site was hit by landslides, officials said, adding that 43 workers were initially inside the tunnel, but 16 of them managed to come out safely.
The accident occurred at around 3.40pm in Samardong in Namche District.
“Nothing certain is known about the condition of the workers trapped inside. Three successive rescue attempts have failed,” district tax collector Anupa Tamling said.
According to Sikkim government officials, the tunnel is part of the Teesta Phase VI hydropower project of the National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC). Tamling said that according to reports received by the district administration, 19 workers from Patel Private Engineering Company and six workers from NHPC were at the site hit by the landslide. Of the three workers who first went to rescue them, two were unable to get out.
“Three rescue attempts were made. But they failed due to bad weather and terrain conditions,” said Sonam Duma Bhutia, Superintendent of Namchi District Police.
A press release issued by the Sikkim government in the afternoon said that all 16 people trapped inside the tunnel were rescued, but authorities soon realized that there were more people at the work site.
Explaining the press release later, Tamling said there was a misunderstanding between different departments.
